Today, while the city scene continues to take off, some suburban restaurants are struggling; Fino’s grand Barossa opening; a boutique brewery’s expansion plans; foodie events for the weekend and much more.
The vibrancy see-saw
On the face of it, Adelaide’s restaurant scene has had a huge year.
Last Friday, the excellent crew from Willunga’s Fino restaurant launched their Barossa enterprise at Seppeltsfield, while Duncan Welgemoed has just opened his creative Africola restaurant (pictured above) in the city.
Orana has cemented its reputation as a national destination, while Adelaide Oval’s Hill of Grace restaurant launched its brave attempt to get fine diners into the stadium to cheer on food and wine instead of footy and cricket.
Jamie’s Italian is packing in families, and Sean’s Kitchen at the Casino has gone off like a cracker. Small bars are booming in the city.
Out in the suburbs though, it’s a different story.
Sally Neville from Restaurant and Catering SA says that while the new restaurants and bars springing up in the CBD have created a lot of buzz, suburban hospitality businesses are struggling.
Traditional entertainment zones in Henley Beach, Norwood and Glenelg are doing it tough, particularly older establishments.
“There’s an overwhelming sense of desperation in the suburbs in the hospitality sector,” Neville told InDaily.
“People have only got so much money to spend.”
While the focus on the city is attracting the attention and the diners – particularly to new establishments – some older restaurants are feeling the pinch.
The message is that if you want your favourite local restaurant to survive, give them some love.
Prancing Pony on the move
Tiny Adelaide Hills brewery the Prancing Pony is on the move to bigger premises.
The rustic brewhouse is currently located in an industrial zone in Mt Barker, but with growing sales – and a desire to eventually crack the interstate market – the Prancing Pony has decided to expand.
The brewery’s products are on the menu at many excellent restaurants, including the aforementioned Jamie’s Italian and Sean’s Kitchen, and they want to spread the word even further.
The new brewhouse is being built in a paddock on the other side of Mt Barker, in Totness on Mt Barker Road (the old road from Mt Barker/Littlehampton to Hahndorf). It’s right next door to another growing local business, Skara Smallgoods.
The Prancing Pony’s Lisa Liebelt says the new brewery will maintain all the rustic, “men’s shed” charm of the original, but with much more room to brew and host groups.
It’s due to open in late January.
The Prancing Pony’s brewshed.
Fino Barossa goes off with a bang
David Swain and Sharon Romeo run one of South Australia’s best and most reliable restaurants at Willunga’s Fino.
Last Friday, they celebrated the beginning of a new era, with a Barossa version of Fino opening its doors with a huge celebration.
There were fireworks, a speech by the Premier, and plenty of the excellent food for which Fino is known.
Fino Seppeltsfield is located in the historic winery’s original bottling hall. The menu takes its cues from a broader sweep of South Australian produce, than that at Fino Willunga, which is fiercely Fleurieu-focused.
Entrees include Mayura Station wagyu pastrami, a dish combining Kinkawooka mussels and Goolwa cockles, and smoked Tommy Ruffs (good to see the real name being used).
Mains include Coorong mulloway, Hutton Vale lamb (made into a wonderful-sounding pasty with silverbeet and sheep’s milk yoghurt) and Limestone Coast Black Angus scotch fillet.
More details and opening hours here.
Fino Seppeltsfield opened with a bang.
David Swain and Sharon Romeo behind the bar at Fino Seppeltsfield.
Bing Boy hits the street
Adelaide-based Asian street food retailer Bing Boy will open its first “street store” in Australia this weekend when the doors officially open at its new Rundle Street outlet on Saturday.
It is Bing Boy’s first foray into stand-alone street frontage premises having until now preferred to develop stores within major food courts and shopping centres.
Bing Boy first introduced its Chinese-style wraps known as “bings” to the Australian market in 2011, and now has a growing chain of modern stores across the country. The Rundle Street store becomes Bing Boy’s 12th South Australian outlet and its 33rd nationwide. There are currently 18 Bing Boy stores in Victoria and three in Queensland.
All bings are thin wheat omelette wraps with free range egg, green onions, coriander, sesame seeds and crispy wonton pieces – made on the spot by Bing Boy staff (it takes them approximately 45 seconds to make a bing). The menu includes eight different bings including “BBQ Bing”, “Pretty n Peking”, “Prawn King”, “Smoking Salmon” and “Veg-ing”.
Bing Boy’s new store is located in the old Kuma Jewellery gift shop next to the UPark at the Pulteney Street end of Rundle Street.
Bing Boy will open its doors at 11am, giving away free bings to the first 88 customers in honour of the number eight which is considered lucky in Chinese culture.
Maggie’s prize
Barossa food legend Maggie Beer has finally been inducted into the Hall of Fame at the South Australian Food Industry Awards.
It was long overdue recognition for Beer at last Friday night’s gala ceremony. After a rough year, it was good to see Maggie’s efforts recognised in this way.
Also at the awards, the inaugural Duncan MacGillivray Entrepreneurs Award was won by Macro Meat Gourmet Game founder Ray Borda.
The award honours the memory of MacGillivray, the creator of Two Dogs Lemonade, Longview Vineyard and Kangaroo Island Pure Grain, who passed away in January.
Lunch at the Tasting Room
The Tasting Room at East End Cellars has expanded its food offering to include seasonal salads.
Platters of cheese and charcuterie remain the menu’s star attraction, but those who are looking for a little more green or salad with substance can now enjoy three different salads made fresh daily.
Examples include roasted pumpkin, beetroot and almond; couscous, capsicum and chevre; and smoked trout and dill. Make it extra special with a serve of Town Life’s new salmon rillettes, Woodstock pate, Di Palma prosciutto or Brique d’Argental cheese and a glass of wine from the daily list of featured wines from the cellar.
The salad menu will change weekly and into the colder months heartier dishes such as lamb shank and hot soup will be included.
Openings
Popular Magill Road joint, Burger Foundry, is opening a second restaurant at Torrensville. Watch out for the opening in mid-December.
The CBD small bar revolution continues at pace. Two new bars are coming to Waymouth Street, including one run by a prominent Adelaide chef. More news soon.
Events
Gorgeous Festival – November 28-29
The McLaren Vale music festival has a strong food and wine focus this year, including a huge shared-table feast at Serafino Wines on Friday. Bookings are essential. Details here.
Diner en Blanc – November 29
As the worldwide phenomenon Diner en Blanc celebrates its 26th anniversary this year, Adelaide will enjoy its second version of the secret epicurean picnic. Last year’s Diner en Blanc attracted 750 enthusiasts to its all white BYO event and this year it will again take over an undisclosed public space with more than 1000 people expected to attend. Invitation is by word of mouth or by signing up to the waiting list. Details here.
Wild Harvest Lunchernoon by Fair Food Adelaide – November 30
Celebrating Fair Food Adelaide and all foods good and local, this event will include a gourmet long table lunch prepared by guest chef Kamilah Kadir. All of the ingredients will be sourced from organic farms or wild foraged. This slow Sunday afternoon will be held at the Silvermine House, Glen Osmond. Guests who cycle to the event will be offered a special cyclist price. Address and directions (including a cycling map) will be given once you’ve ordered your ticket. Tickets are limited and cost from $70 per head for a three course feast and wine. More information here.
2014 Back of the Ute Wine Sale – November 30
In conjunction with the Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers’ Market, Adelaide The Wine Capital of Australia is holding its first ever pop-up ‘back of the ute’ wine sale. Show your 365daysofwineandfood app downloaded to your smart phone and for $10 entry you will receive a wine glass and five tasting tokens to use at any of the 40 utes pouring 200 different wines from 40 South Australian wineries. Participating wineries include Paulett Wines, Shaw & Smith, Bremerton Wines, Rymill, Woodstock and Fox Gordon. Details here.
